Why should I practice karate?

There are many benefits of training in karate. Physically it enhances strength, coordination, stamina, balance and flexibility. Regular exercise can improve both the quality and longevity of your life and make you feel happier and more alert. There is also evidence that exercise can help cognitive brain function.

With continued Karate training, you will gain.

• fitness

• confidence

• flexibility

• improved reflexes

• coordination

• muscle strength

• relaxation

• discipline

• etiquette

• respect for all

• strength of character

Karate trains the mind as well as the body, resulting in improved self-awareness, discipline, confidence and will power. Not only will you have the peace of mind that you can defend yourself, but your confidence will help you to tackle all life throws at you.

 

What will I learn?

We teach traditional Wado Kai Karate in a safe, friendly and respectful environment. Wado Kai is a traditional, defensive style of karate which focuses on technique and using the opponent’s force and aggression against themselves. Our syllabus, from IWF INDIA(Wado Kai), is structured and progressive to allow you to develop in easy steps.

 

What do I wear?

When you start karate you will need to wear loose clothing so that you are able to move around freely. Suitable clothing would consist of jogging/ tracksuit trousers, and a T-shirt. It is important that whatever you choose to wear is both comfortable and suitable for physical activity.

When you are confident that you want to continue with karate training you can purchase yourself a ‘gi’, which is the cotton jacket and trousers worn in karate.

 

Who will teach me?

The instructors at IWF INDIA are registered with IWF INDIA.

The senior most instructor for the federation is Shihan CHANDRESH SINGH (6th Dan, Black Belt).

 

How fit do I have to be?

Most people are unfit when they start karate and often it’s the reason why they take it up in the first place. We offer person centered training, so your fitness (or lack of!) will not prevent you from enjoying and developing in karate.

Our syllabus is constructed so that the most physically demanding techniques are introduced in a phased manor. This means your fitness will develop as you train more and this in turn helps you to progress through the belt system.

Wado Kai is a softer style of karate which focuses on technique and less on physical strength, making it ideal for all fitness levels.

 

Am I too old?

You are never too old to start Karate; there are many older karate-ka (one who practices karate) including some Japanese masters who practice well in to their 80’s and 90’s.We believe in adjusting the way that you practice karate to suit your body so you're not expected to perform like a 21 year old athlete if you're in your fifties. If you are over 35 and have not exercised in a while, or have any concerns about your current level of fitness/health it is recommended that you go for a health check up.

 

 

Is karate suitable for children?

Karate is one of the best activities a child can practice, with the degree of discipline, respect and etiquette taught in the class the child will learn to accept more responsibilities, become more aware and confident. Add to this fitness and the ability to be able to stand up for themselves, you can see why so many parents enrol their children in karate classes.

 

 

Is karate suitable for women?

Wado Kai is a softer style of karate which focuses on technique rather than physical strength, this makes it an ideal style for women.

You will learn to use the strong parts of you body against the weak parts of your attackers, along with ways of using your whole body to defeat an opponent rather than using strength alone.

Karate also exercises and tones up the entire body helping you look and feel great whilst increasing your confidence and awareness.

 

How long must I train before I can defend myself?

The ability to defend oneself from attack is dependent on many factors and the longer you train, the more able you will become. However, you will be better equipped to defend yourself from day one. At the end of your first class you will know how to perform several punches and kicks as well as how to block and evade your attacker.

At each following class you will build on this, getting better every class you attend. Your confidence will also grow with your new found skills which will also benefit in keeping you out of trouble in the first place!

 

 

When do we get to free spar/ do I have to fight?

Basic sparring and pair work is worked on during the early stages of karate. Free sparring or Kumite is looked at when you are more advanced. The main reason for this is that good basic technique is a prerequisite to effective free sparring and too much free sparring tends to create bad habits in basic technique.

Beginners occasionally free spar, but typically it is with senior students as partners or under controlled conditions. This is primarily for safety reasons - the senior students won't hurt you because they have learned to control their techniques, and no matter how unpredictable your technique is, you probably won't be able to hurt them!

Kumite is only a small part of karate training and if you don’t want to participate or focus on Kumite (free fighting), no one will force you.

 

What are the belts (grades) in karate and how long does it take to reach them?

Students start by going through the "kyu" ranks. Progression in karate is a personal journey, but at the early stages you can expect to grade every 3 to 6 months. Kyu ranks and the color belts that go with them are:

10th Kyu (White I) 

9th Kyu (Yellow) 
8th Kyu (Orange) 
7th Kyu (Green I) 
6th Kyu (Green II) 
5th Kyu (Blue)

4th Kyu (Purple) 
3rd Kyu (Brown III) 
2nd Kyu (Brown II) 
1st Kyu (Brown I) 
1st Dan (Black) 

 

 

Will I get hurt?

Our main aim is to provide a safe environment for our students and serious injuries are extremely uncommon in karate.

The injury risk in Karate is much lower than in most other sports, such as football, cricket and hockey; where broken bones and noses as well as knee and joint injuries are common.

All contact is controlled and the most you would expect is the occasional sore muscle or bruise. 

 

What do I do next?

All you have to do is come along and try it out, and we offer a free first lesson to all new students. You will need some comfortable clothes (tracksuit and tee-shirt) and maybe a bottle of water. If you're shopping around for martial arts schools or unsure whether Wado Kai Karate is for you; you're very welcome to observe a class and talk to the instructors or club members when it has finished.We understand that the hardest step to make is the first one through the dojo door, so if you have any questions not answered already please contact us.